Wagoner chat

Rams mailbag: Offseason underway

By Nick Wagoner | ESPN.com

http://espn.go.com/blog/st-louis-rams/post/_/id/15514/rams-mailbag-offseason-underway

Welcome to the first installment of the St. Louis Rams Twitter mailbag, where each Sunday I will take your questions from Twitter and answer them in this space. Anything you want to ask is fair game, and I’ll do my best to get to most questions either here or on Twitter. Tweet your questions to me on Twitter @nwagoner and be sure to use the hashtag #RamsMail.

CochiseJack @tribccsd
@nwagoner #RamsMail Is the #ReverendIsaacBruce interested in coaching at the #NFL level?

@nwagoner: I know Isaac pretty well. Though he loves the game enough to actually help out coaching down at his old high school in Florida, I just don’t think he wants to put in the time required to be an NFL coach. The hours are taxing, and he has a young family and just opened a gym as well. With so much going on, it seems unlikely. That isn’t to say he might not pursue it some day, but he’s got a good thing going right now without the stress of an NFL coaching job.

Ram Jam @RamsFansUnite
@nwagoner please name some attractive FA targets this offseason. Iupati, Wisniewski…who else?

@nwagoner: Keep in mind, most of the attractive free agents who are on the list now probably won’t be when the time comes. But I think you hit on some intriguing names for positions of need. It would behoove the Rams to add a veteran on the offensive line. If Oakland lets center Stefan Wisniewski shake loose, the Rams should at least get in on it. I also think Kansas City center Rodney Hudson is a good player who could hit the market. Both of them fit the mold of young, still ascending players and would make sense for the Rams. I’m not as sold on Mike Iupati. He isn’t exactly old but has had injury issues and been less effective in recent years. Given the likely investment it would take, that money would be better spent elsewhere, at least that’s my early read on it.

Clyde Diggity @ReckaTee
@nwagoner Realistically, what do you think is the best option(s) for the Rams QB situation?

@nwagoner: Some people probably don’t want to hear it, but the plan they have now is the one that realistically makes the most sense. Bring Sam Bradford back at a reduced rate, re-sign one of Shaun Hill or Austin Davis, and then hope and pray you find a talented young quarterback, likely in the second or third round, in the NFL draft. I still think that plan would’ve been better had it been executed last year, but unfortunately there aren’t any obvious outside solutions better than this one.

@SooWassupp
@nwagoner what’s the likelihood the Rams free up cap space and actually spend some money this offseason

@nwagoner: There are some obvious moves they can — and likely — will make to free up cap space. Offensive tackle Jake Long, center Scott Wells, Bradford and defensive tackle Kendall Langford are among those who can or will be cut or brought back on cheaper contracts to free up money. I don’t expect the Rams to be major players in free agency, but I do think they’re better positioned to add a more costly piece or two.

bird @the_clay_bird
@nwagoner #RamsMail If you had to put it into a percentage, what are the chances the Rams trade up to draft Winston or Mariotta?

@nwagoner: As we sit here today? Maybe 10 percent. Jeff Fisher and Les Snead have had that question floated to them and haven’t categorically shot them down so we have to at least keep the door open on it. Of course, it’s so early in the process that they probably don’t even have a real value assigned to either at this point. And it would also depend on how far up they’d have to move to make it happen.